Great Britain

an island of NW Europe, separated from the mainland by the English Channel and the North Sea: since 1707 the name has applied politically to England, Scotland, and Wales. 46,417,600; 88,139 sq. mi. (228,280 sq. km). Cf. United Kingdom.

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or Britain

Island, western Europe.

It is the largest island in Europe, comprising England, Scotland, and Wales and covering 88,787 sq mi (229,957 sq km). With Northern Ireland, it constitutes the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Less formally, the names Great Britain and Britain are used to refer to the entire United Kingdom.

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also called  Britain 

island lying off the western coast of Europe and consisting of England, Scotland, and Wales (qq.v.). The term is often used as a synonym for the United Kingdom (United Kingdom) (q.v.), which also includes Northern Ireland (q.v.) and a number of offshore islands.

▪ ship

      first Atlantic ocean liner that was built of iron and had screw propulsion. It was the world's largest ship at the time of its launching (1843) and was 322 feet (98 m) long with a tonnage of 3,270. Designed by the British engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel originally as a paddle steamer and built at Bristol, it was equipped with screw machinery that was supplemented by sails on six (later five) masts. In 1884 it was damaged when rounding Cape Horn and was sold as a hulk at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, where it was scuttled in 1937. It was later raised, restored, and put on display at Bristol, Eng.

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